Former President Donald Trump responded to Time magazine's latest cover featuring Elon Musk at the Resolute Desk with a touch of sarcasm, questioning whether the publication was still in operation. The cover story, titled "Inside Elon Musk’s War on Washington," sparked discussion around Musk's influence as head of Trump's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Trump, in response to a reporter's question, quipped, "Is Time magazine still in business? I didn't even know that." He then praised Musk's performance, highlighting his efforts in uncovering fraud, corruption, and waste within government agencies, particularly USAID. Trump expressed satisfaction with Musk's team and emphasized Musk's long-standing desire to address government inefficiencies.

Trump specifically mentioned Musk's focus on the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and indicated that other agencies would also be under DOGE's scrutiny. He criticized government spending, labeling much of it as fraudulent or wasteful, and expressed optimism about achieving a balanced budget due to these efforts. He reiterated his approval of Musk's work, stating, "He's doing a very good job. I'm very happy with it." It's worth noting that Trump was Time's Person of the Year in 2024, and a previous cover featured him removing Biden's belongings from the Resolute Desk. Fox News Digital reached out to Time magazine for comment, but they did not immediately respond.